Fastening device for cables, wires, or the like



Nov. 16,1948. 2,453,980

FASTENING DEVICE F011 CABLES, WIRES, 0R THE'LIKE R. A. HARTMAN Filed Oct. 28,' 1946 Patented Nov. 16, 1948 FASTENING DEVICE FOR CABLES, WIRES, oa'rnE LIKE Richard A. Hartman, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Tinnerman Products, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio,

corporation of Ohio" Application October 28, 1946, Serial No. 706,227

This invention relates in general to spring clip fastening devices and deals, more particularly, with an improved clip construction for attaching in multiple various types of conduits such. as cables, wires, tubes and the like, onto a panel,. plate or other support. i

Many installations comprise several wires, cables, rods, tubes, and similar objects, or 'acombination of such objects, which extend in the same general direction in close proximity to each, other. When the various conduits are separately secured by individual fasteners, an entirely inordinate amount of time is required which frequently results in excessive costs for labor and other increased and unwarranted expenses, in mass production methods of assembly.

The present invention has for a primary object the provision of a clip fastener for securing in a minimum of time and effort a plurality of cables, wires or other conduits in an installation such as described, and which so secures the conduits to the support, individually and severally, that they are not subject to loosening or displacement under the most severeconditions ofvibration or shock. i

A further object of the invention is to provide such a clip fastener which secures the several conduits in spaced relation to the support in a manner to avoid dangerous wear of the same from contact with the support.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clip fastener of this character in an improved construction by which the several conduits in an installation are secured by separate resilient clamping means apart from each other so as 'to prevent chafing or rubbing of the conduits as a result of vibratory motion, or the like, taking place in the installation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clip fastener of the kind described which is strong, durable and reliable and is adapted for economical quantity production at comparatively low cost in that it may be manufactured from standard sheet metal strip stock with little loss or waste of material.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent as the following description proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, for purposes of illustration but; not of limitation, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout-the same, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of an installation comprising a plurality of wires :or other conduits 3 Claims. (01. 24-73) per se;

, V 2 secured by the improved clip fastener of the invention; I

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of an installationshowing the improved clip fastener in edge elevation as applied to an opening in a panel or other support to secure a plurality of wires or conduits inmultiples; l

Fig. 3 is, a perspective view of the clip fastener Fig. 4 is a sectional viewof Fig. 2 taken on line 4 l looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing the clip fastener in side elevation; and,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of Fig. 4, takenon line 5-5 looking in the directionof the arrows.

Referring now, more particularly, to the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate the application and use of a preferred form of clip fastener of the invention, shown-in Fig. 3, as employed for securing in multiplea plurality of conduits such as insulated wires I, 2, and 3, respectively. Theclip is adapted to secure, in an analogous relation,

similar objects such as tubes, rods, pipes, cables, etc. or a combination of such, as in an automobile installation wherein a gasoline line or pipe would be secured between a pair of ignition wires extending inthe same general direction, The clip fastener is designed to be applied to fastening engagement in an aperture in a support defined, for example, by the chassis frame or dash panel of an automobile or a similar supportingplateor panel in any structure of general utility. The supporting panel orplate A, may be ofany suitable material such as sheet metal, wood, fibre board 'or the like, but usually is in-.the form of a metallic panel or plate-like element which is provided with fastener receiving openings at regular intervals and at suitably spaced points along which the conduits extend in attached position. Such fastener receiving openings may be either round, rectangular or of any other suitable outline but generally are provided in the manner of circular recesses 5 which involve the least'cost inasmuch as only the simplest punching or drilling tools are required.

The clipfastener, designated generally in, is made in a highly simplified design from alrelatively small, inexpensive length of any suitable sheet metal or Wire strip material, preferably of a spring metal nature such as spring steel or cold rolled steel having spring characteristics; with the size, finish and'thickness thereof selected according to service requirements and the. predetermined size and nature of the parts of the installation. The fastener is readily manufacturedby "simple bending and forming operations by which the strip is bent intermediately to provide a generally V-shaped shank comprising a pair of spaced shank legs I I, I 2, which are united at the point or leading end of the fastener and extend in diverging relation to define compressible and resilient guide surfaces permitting ready application offlthe fastener'into an pening}in, ;a panel, plate or other supporting member.

At suitably spaced points from the leading end of the fastener, the shank legs II, I2 are bent inwardly toward each otherr to ;provide,inclined cam shoulders I5, I6, in converging relationand which shoulders have a normal spacing greater than the diameter of the paneLjopen-ing'I -and a *-the. ,may-be formed with suitable loops 31, 38,

length greater than the predeterminedthickness of the panel A. Similar shoulders may be provided in various equivalent ;cnstruct10ns' as-5by fingers carried by or struck out from the shank legs II, I2, or wings, or the like, formed on the longitudinal edges of the shank legs and provided with'tapered edgesdefining the desired shoulders adapting the shank of the fastener for snap fastening 'engagement'in thepanel opening 5.

- In the present example, the converging cam shoulders I5,I6are advantageous in that they are simple continuations of the shank legs I'I, I2 and may be of such length as to permit a single size *fastener to be attached to panelsof different thicknesses, within limits, Preferably theshank legs=I-I I2,- are of"slight1y less width than the cam shoulders I5, I6, as seen in Fig.4, in order to facilitate the initial application of the shank into thepanel opening 5, and saidsharik legs otherwise may be provided with longitudinally spaced relation to the lower cam shoulders I5, --I 8 respectively, and'adapted to 'cooperate'therewith in engaging opposite'faces of the 'panel'adjacentthe panel opening to retain-the fastener in applied fastening position. The converging relationof the shoulders 15, -I 6 coupled with=the=i45 diverging relation of =theassociated upper shoulders I1, [8, is such -as to provide cooperating, spaced, re-entrant panel engaging shoulders' 'lli, II, and-16, I8, adapted to receive therebetw een :panels of various thicknesses and otherwise to seat the fastener automaticalfly in "most effective fastening engagement in a -fa-stener-receivi -ng opening in any such panel.

Head members 2I, 22 are provided in conextending ribs or corrugations to stifien the-same ad spring fingers 3I, 32 are inwardly biased to cooperate with the outer cam lips defined by the outer surfaces of sinuous portions 25, 26 on the spring arms 23, 24, to retain the conduits 2, 3,

5 in snap fastened position. Thus, conduit 2 is -gers 3I, 32 preferably terminate in outwardly ;-.flar,ed tongues,. 3 5,. .36, which facilitate the initial application of the conduits 2, 3, to attached position under said spring fingers 3|, 32. When increased resiliencygisrdesired in the spring fingers,

that provide'for greater yielding movement of the 'springifingers ;relative to the associated spring arms 23, 24.

Withthe improved spring clip provided in the general manner described and substantially as ashowniin Fig. 23,;it, will be understoodithat the fastener ,is employed :in an installation .suchas '$ShOwn\ .n'mgS.11,f2J and d-by applying the-resilient -.shank:legs .UyrIZ of theiastenerto secured posi- (L :tion lin the ip'anel opening :5 either with the iconduits I, 2, and 3 preassembledztherewith orin- .vdividually attached thereto a'fterzthe 1 f tener is seate'd in applied fastening; position insaid panel Io'peningrS. I :In -.=either. .ca'se,- the shank 10f -the rrgovfastener-iisaeasilyiand =,q11ickly secured .in .the

panel-opening 5 .in a simple -operation by which -the5leadin end. of: the: fastener is readily; inserted into the-:panehopening :5, .and as :the ;fastener is pushed :axially,-;,the 1diverging :shanklegs ;I,I, I2, :are Jcompressed against ;the "edges ;of ithe ,panel opening untillthezlowencam shoulders I:5, 16 pass :therethrough and engage :the .lower 1001:1181 ed ofsaid openinglzas best seen ;.in .Eig. ;2. These lowerscam shoulders 15,16. slide :onnthe lower =corner. edges.'of the; panel opening until they: are automatically seated iin:most effective lfastenin position in engagement .With such Jower corner edges 'ofithepanel opening, depending .on :the thickness of .the qpanel. The. -,upper .cam shoulders II, I8 engage the upper cornerzedgesof the panel: opening.ina'simi1ar manner. -In:this ,way, .1 .the cooperating-cam shoulders I5, I l, 'and l6, [l8 care adapted .to ,engage efiectivelyypanels pf dif- Iferent ;thicknesses and otherwise-compensate ,for

irregularities and manufacturing variations. -.1'n ithe :thickness .of a supply ofgpanelsadjacent .the :fastener receivingppenings therein. v. In any ,event, the voppositely .-disposed shoulders I5 :,I'I and 5H, laflcooperate to engage opposite ,faces .of

'tinuation of the upper-shoulders I1, 18 and in-azofi zthe. panel. :adj.acent -:the .opening therein ;and

elude outwardly curved, arcuate spring arms-26, '24, conforming generally to the contour of the central conduit I :to clamp the same firmly-and rigidly in the most-effective manner. Adjacent the ends of said-spring arms 23, 24, the 'springofio armsare curved inwardly andthen outwardly-in sinuous portions 25, 26. The inner surfaces of said sinuous portions '25, 2-6 define inner -cam lips that retain the conduit :I .in snap fastend vengagement between the spring arms 23, id and tfi otherwise define a flared entrance to the-space -between said spring arms whichfacilitates ap- -plication of the conduit I tosnap fastened'position betweensaid spring arms 23, 24, as best'seen in Fig. 2.

'The spring arms :23, 2,!- merge into, outward :return bends defining return gbent springfingers -.3l, :3 adapted ioagr p the conduits 2, 3, ,in 00- ,pperation .with {the ,outergsurfaces of the .assorelated ,;'spring;arms 13,124, xespectiyely ;;sg,

m 7 by in-supported position by theelements of the spring arms'll il a nd spring-fingers 3!,32, as aplBViOUSIYrdBSCI'ibGd.

In the event that it becomes necessary to :reemoive the fastener 'from ithetpanel, :this Sis easily accomplished simply :by compressing rthe shank legs ll, [2 as necessary for the cam shoulders I5, [6, Fig. 5, to lie within the outline of the opening 5 and thereby permit the fastener to be removed from the opening in an axial direction reverse to that in which it was applied. Thereafter, the fastener may be reapplied to a panel opening in the same or a similar installation in a repetition of the foregoing described procedure. In any removal of the fastener or disassociation of the parts of an installation, the conduits may be detached from the fastener in any order either before or after the fastener is removed from the panel opening.

Although the invention has been described with various references to its use in automobile installations, it will be understood that the invention is equally adaptable to a wide range and variety of applications in the construction of airplanes, radio and electrical apparatus and any other structure in which it is desired to support or attach in multiple a plurality of conduits or other objects to a panel, plate or other support in the general manner described.

The clip fastener in any form preferably is constructed of relatively thin sheet metal, the thickness of which is selected according to service requirements and the predetermined size of the parts secured. The fasteners are most effective when provided of spring metal suitably spring tempered and otherwise treated to give the desired toughness and hardness, particularly in the case of devices which are put to heavy duty in installations where extreme vibratory motion takes place. A cheap but effective fastener may be provided from cold rolled metal, such as cold rolled steel, which is untempered but of a spring metal nature and capable of providing an effective and reliable fastening means adapted for a long period of satisfactory service and use.

While the invention has been described in detail with a specific example such example is intended as an illustration only, since it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other modifications in the construction, arrangement and general combination of parts may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, with all changes falling within the scope, meaning and range of equivalency of the claims intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. A fastener for retaining a plurality of objects in separately attached and detachable relation comprising a strip of metal bent to provide a pair of spaced shank legs adapted to be compressed toward each other in fastening position in an opening in a support, cooperating spaced spring arms carried by said shank legs adapted to grip an object therebetween under the force of said shank legs in compressed condition in the opening, inwardly extending portions on said spring arms at the entrance to the space therebetween for retaining said object against removal from between said spring arms, one of said spring arms having an outward reversely extending spring finger adjoining the inwardly extending portion thereon defining a recess for retaining another object in close overlapping relation to the first named object with said inwardly extending portion disposed between the retained objects to prevent chafing thereof.

2. A fastener for retaining a plurality of objects in separately attached and detachable relation comprising a strip of metal bent to provide a pair of spaced shank legs adapted to be compressed toward each other in fastening position in an opening in a support, cooperating spaced spring arms carried by said shank legs adapted to grip an object therebetween under the force of said shank legs in compressed condition in the opening, inwardly extending portions on said spring arms at the entrance to the space therebetween for retaining said object against removal from between said spring arms, each of said spring arms having an outward reversely extending spring finger adjoining the inwardly extending portion thereon defining a recess for retaining another object in close overlapping relation to the first named object with said inwardly extending portions disposed between adjacent retained objects to prevent chafing thereof.

3. A fastener for retaining a plurality of objects in separately attached and detachable relation comprising a strip of metal bent to provide a pair of spaced shank legs adapted to be compressed toward each other in fastening position in an opening in a support, cooperating spaced spring arms carried by said shank legs adapted to grip an object therebetween under the force of said shank legs in compressed condition in the opening, inwardly extending portions on said spring arms at the entrance to the space therebetween for retaining said object against removal from between said spring arms, each of said spring 7 arms having an outward reversely extending spring finger adjoining the inwardly extending portion thereon defining a recess for retaining another object in close overlapping relation to the first named object with said inwardly extending portions disposed between adjacent retained objects to prevent chafing thereof, said spring fingers having outward loops increasing the flexibility thereof and outwardly flared tongues on their extremities for facilitating application of the objects retained thereby.

RICHARD A. HARTMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,373,881 Hall Aug. 23, 1932 1,945,585 Wintrob Feb. 6, 1934 1,995,370 Walters Mar. 16, 1935 2,068,932 Quarnstrom Jan. 26, 1937 2,100,017 Van Uum Nov. 23, 1937 2,128,005 Lombard Aug. 23, 1938 2,278,691 Cotter Apr. '7, 1942 

